The High Court has received a new originating motion from the Office of the Special Prosecutor, headed by Kissi Agyebeng, asking for confirmation of the orders seizing and freezing the financial assets of Cecilia Dapaah, a former sanitation minister.
OSP Kissi Agyebeng
On Monday, September 11, a motion was filed, and it is anticipated that it will be considered on October 18 of the following year, 2023.
Six days after the Special Prosecutor complied with the High Court’s instructions to return the money it had confiscated as a result of its searches, the most recent step was taken.
Additional five thousand dollars (US$5,000.00) and two million seven hundred and thirty thousand cedis (GHC2,730,000.00) were found during a search by the Special Prosecutor and his team on July 24 at three homes connected to the former Minister.
Following that and in accordance with additional searches, the OSP filed an originating action at the High Court to get a confirmation order for the freezing of the former minister’s bank accounts, which contain sizable sums of money in both dollars and cedis.
Madam Cecilia Dapaah
Additionally, Cecilia Dapaah’s bank accounts and investments at Prudential Bank Limited and Societe Generale were subject to a court confirmation order.
However, that application, which was submitted on August 8, was rejected by the High Court, which was presided over by Justice Edward Twum, on the grounds that it was submitted after the seven-day legal deadline and that the OSP had committed an error in performing the search.
The head pastor of the Anointed Palace Chapel Worldwide (APC) has stated that the Westerners brought down Christianity to Blacks in a more criminal way which has corrupted the church today.
According to Rev. Oboufuor, the Whites have worried blacks for introducing Christianity because pastors today lie to congregants and entices them to come for counselling where they seize the opportunity to buy them into mental slavery. The prophet made this revelation when he was speaking to his live audience via social media.
Head Pastor of the APC Worldwide
Rev. Oboufuor who is also known as Asanteman Bofuor is the General Overseer of the Anointed Palace Chapel and the owner of Sweet TV in Ghana. He gained popularity in Ghana in the year 2018 and has since been touted as one of the richest pastors in the country. He has made claims of being the only true archangel of God in Ghana and continues to live luxuriously.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Assin Central, Ken Agyapong, has said his recent comment about government’s “poor” management of the cedi was not targeted at Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia.
“You call yourself a strategist but when we were taking over power the dollar was GHC4, today US$1 is GHC12 and yet you call yourself a strategist,” Agyapong told NPP delegates. “In March 2022, I had US$40 million in cedi equivalent, in August 2022 the value of the US$40 million had dropped to US$16 million.” According to him, the strategist he was referring to in his tirade was a specific lawmaker.
“The truth hurts… so you are the victim, and I am educating you, and you think I’m hitting back? You see, they are not being fair. I did not hit the Vice President but I hit one MP because he said, ‘We don’t want somebody who will come and say that I have done this and that for the party and Ghana, but we want a strategist,’” Agyapong told Home Radio in the Upper West Region. Respect for Bawumia “I have the utmost respect for Vice President Bawumia and his strategic thinking,” Agyapong, who is also aspiring to become the party’s presidential candidate said. “He has demonstrated time and again his ability to effectively strategise for the benefit of the party and the country as a whole.”
Hon. Kennedy Agyapong
Agyapong did not name the lawmaker in the interview but said that MP was in Parliament “shouting” Ghana was not going to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) but “within two hours the country was there.” The maverick politician also called on the media to avoid sensationalism in their reportage.
“The people that I have helped, made them who they are today, they are the ones that are against me. I bought cars, gave them money, campaigned for them to win their seats, but now, they’re my number one enemies. But I just look at them, and I say ‘Lord, forgive them because of their stomach’”, Agyapong said.
The Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign communication bureau has dismissed claims by one Nigerian journalist believed to have been contacted by John Mahama to smear Vice President Bawumia’s campaign of becoming the Presidential Candidate of the governing New Patriotic party.
Dr. Bawumia, NPP Presidential Aspirant
The communique reads;
“The attention of the Bawumia Campaign Team has been drawn to a post by one David Humdeyin, a journalist in Nigeria, that the Bawumia Campaign is being funded by some Islamic group in Nigeria called the ACF.
We notice that the same narrative has been copied by some persons and groups in Ghana on social media. This narrative is obviously false, fabricated, and only serves the propaganda purposes of its promoters.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Bawumia Campaign has no funding or any linkage with any Islamic group in Nigeria or anywhere else.
We also note that the said David Humdeyin has demonstrated a penchant for making similar claims against some persons and groups in Nigeria without any basis whatsoever
H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
The Bawumia Campaign is focused and will not be distracted by such vain untruths.
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been very diligent and transparent from his days as a scholar, banker, and politician throughout his life and will not depart from these now and forever”.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, recently outlined his vision for constituency empowerment during his ongoing campaign tour. As part of this vision, he promised to allocate at least 10 government appointments to each constituency if elected as the NPP’s flag bearer and successfully winning the 2024 election. This proposal aims to bridge the gap between the party and government, ensuring that qualified and competent individuals from local constituencies have a voice in national governance. While some critics, such as Franklin Cudjoe, have expressed skepticism, it is essential to examine the merits of this proposition and highlight the potential benefits it holds for the NPP and the nation as a whole.
NPP Flagbearer hopeful, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
Empowering Constituencies:
Dr. Bawumia’s commitment to allocating government appointments directly to the constituencies exemplifies his dedication to grassroots empowerment. By offering each constituency a significant number of slots within the government, he aims to provide a platform for local representatives to contribute to the decision-making processes at the national level. This initiative is an integral part of fostering inclusive governance, as it ensures that the concerns and perspectives of grassroots party members are adequately represented in the corridors of power.
The Role of the Constituency Party:
Under Dr. Bawumia’s proposal, the constituency party will have the responsibility of nominating 10 qualified and competent individuals for government appointments. This process not only fosters local participation but also ensures that those selected are accountable to their respective constituencies. The nominees will be aware that their appointments were made through the local party, reinforcing the connection between the party and its elected officials. Additionally, this mechanism prevents any appointees from disregarding their party responsibilities, as the party can use the whip system to address any such issues. Ultimately, this approach establishes a stronger bond between the party, government, and the constituents they represent.
Countering Skepticism:
Critics, including Franklin Cudjoe, have questioned the competence and viability of Dr. Bawumia’s proposal. However, it is important to note that competency is not solely determined by the size or reach of an individual’s organization, such as IMANI Ghana. Dr. Bawumia’s emphasis on selecting qualified and competent individuals reflects his commitment to ensuring that the best talents are engaged in driving national development. Furthermore, the process of nomination by the constituency party adds an additional layer of scrutiny, minimizing the risk of appointees being chosen based on nepotism or favoritism.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
Dr. Bawumia’s vision for constituency empowerment through government appointments is a commendable step towards enhancing inclusive governance and strengthening the bond between the party and its grassroots supporters. By providing each constituency with at least 10 slots, he is offering an avenue for capable individuals to contribute to national decision-making processes. This initiative will bridge the gap between the party and government, reinforcing the party’s influence and ensuring that appointees remain accountable to their respective constituencies. While skepticism exists, it is important to recognize the merits of this proposal and the potential positive impact it can have on Ghana’s governance. Dr. Bawumia’s commitment to inclusive and competent governance warrants support and recognition from within the NPP and across the nation.
Former Member of Parliament(MP) for Suhum constituency, Fred Opare Ansah has appealed to the New Patriotic Party delegates to vote massively for the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia during the party’s presidential primary.
The party will hold a Special Delegates Congress in August this year to trim the number of presidential aspirants from ten to five and the main congress in November to elect their flagbearer.
According to Opare Ansah, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has proven his competence to lead the country through his digital initiatives to transform Ghana.
He listed some initiatives such as the mobile money interoperability, paperless port system among others by the Vice President and the creation of a Ministry of Communication and Digitalization due to Dr. Bawumia’s foresight, stressing there is no person who represents the NPP’s chance of winning the 2024 elections than the Veep.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
“Dr. Bawumia represents the best chance of the NPP to continue beyond the traditional 8 years that we have seen a swinging between the two major political parties, the NPP and the NDC,” he charged the party delegates.
Ten candidates namely; Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former Trade Minister; Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, former Agriculture Minister; Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former Energy Minister; Boakye Agyarko, former Railways and Development Minister; Joe Ghartey, Member of Parliament for Assin Central; Kennedy Agyapong, former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party; Kwabena Agyepong among others have filed their nomination forms to contest the flagbearer race.
Freeman Foundation and some students in the Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality
A non-governmental organisation called the FREEMAN FOUNDATION has given BECE candidates in a number of junior high schools in the Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality mathematical sets worth thousands of cedis. The goal of the contribution made last Friday was to provide some basic necessities to Ghanaian students in the Municipality so they may focus on their BECE preparation and have the peace of mind to do so. In the entire Eastern Region, Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality performed best in the BECE last year. It’s a sign that if we give these youngsters more attention, their future will be secure. And for that reason, we’ve made the audacious decision to provide them with these basic items
Freeman Foundation and pupils of the Methodist school
According to the CEO Mr. Prince Osei Appah, his Organisation believes in fostering children’s intellectual development for the sake of the nation and the entire continent. He also took advantage of the occasion to exhort young people and prosperous members of the community to assist these kids by giving them the tools and supplies they need to improve instruction and learning in the various basic schools. It is important to remember that investments made in the educational sector will eventually reinforce the foundation and provide a pleasant and brighter future for our small brothers & sisters. Education is the keyto success.
List of schools that benefited from the FREEMAN FOUNDATION maiden edition of the One Student, One Mathematical set policy included; Sakyikrom United JHS, Tieku MA JHS, Adoagyiri Methodist JHS & St Michaels Anglican JHS.
The Freeman Foundation seeks to inform, educate, and inspire people.
In the highly anticipated NPP presidential primaries, one candidate stands out as the clear favorite: the most credible politician, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Most credible politician, Dr. Bawumia
With consistently high approval ratings and a reputation for economic prowess, Dr. Bawumia has positioned himself as the most experienced and qualified contender in the race. As a vice president, he has played a crucial role in steering Ghana’s economic growth by championing innovative reforms like digitalization of government services. Additionally, his down-to-earth demeanor and unwavering commitment to public service has made him a popular figure among his contemporaries, especially for his dedication to improving the lives of marginalized communities. While facing competition from other candidates, such as Alan Kyerematen and Kennedy Agyapong, Dr. Bawumia’s strong track record and widespread appeal makes him the frontrunner in the upcoming NPP presidential primaries.
Unwavering Approval Ratings: Recent polls conducted by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (GCDD) indicates that Bawumia’s approval rating is 62% with his best opponent, Alan Kyeremanten trailing at 38%. This substantial margin reflects the trust and confidence Ghanaians place in his ability to lead and effect a positive change.
Unparalleled Experience and Qualifications: Dr. Bawumia’s six-year tenure as vice president, coupled with his extensive prior government service, underscores his unparalleled experience and qualifications. His profound understanding of Ghana’s economy and the challenges it faces positions him as a candidate who can navigate complex economic landscapes with confidence and expertise.
A Populist Leader for All Ghanaians: Dr. Bawumia’s appeal extends beyond his economic acumen. Ghanaians regard him as a relatable and honest leader who genuinely cares about their concerns. His down-to-earth nature and approachability have fostered a connection with citizens across the nation, further enhancing his popularity and trustworthiness.
A Resilient and Experienced Campaign Team: Dr. Bawumia’s campaign team, comprising seasoned professionals, has meticulously devised a winning strategy for both the primaries and the general election. Their experience and expertise in mobilizing support, coupled with Dr. Bawumia’s popularity, provide a formidable force that positions him favorably in the race.
H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
As the NPP presidential primaries draw nearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia emerges as the leading candidate, backed by his remarkable approval ratings, extensive experience, and wide popularity among Ghanaians. With a proven track record of economic management, his ability to introduce vital reforms, and an unwavering commitment to public service, Dr. Bawumia embodies the qualities desired in a leader who can guide Ghana toward progress and prosperity. While facing competition from other candidates, the strength of Dr. Bawumia’s candidacy, supported by his exceptional qualifications and the dedication of his campaign team, positions him as the frontrunner and a formidable contender for the presidency of Ghana.
In an earlier piece on the most credible politician, HE, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, I observed among other things that “DMB has shaken the frontiers of political engagement in the country. Even in his humorous best he essentially ensures that campaigns and debates are issues-based. He has often found simple and witty ways to repel the mischief and propaganda of the NDC. His ‘chalie wote to boot’ response to President Mahama’s boot to boot campaign was one of the many subtle punches that kept a vicious opposition at bay, and also endeared him to many neutrals and technocrats. The NPP should do well to leverage on the benefits of this influence. It is to their advantage to try to sway the Ghanaian voter to concentrate on the many issues that require attention, which happily the party is addressing.
But that is not the topic for today even though the connection is too obvious to ignore.
As the internal NPP Presidential Primaries approach, the actions of a few rabble rousers simply become harder to contain. Harder not because they have any statistical chance to emerge victorious in the internal contest, but harder because it will not require any deep thinking from a Nursery Two child to understand that the needless effusions by the few untamed ‘party’ people are clear signposts on the road to self-destruction. You get a little bit deeper, and concerns about doing the NDC’s bidding begins to make sense to you. It is all the more surprising that a reasonable adult, will unleash their worst form of virulent attacks, some frankly bothering on the most reckless insults, on the party’s best bet in an election that will define the future of your party.
Vice President Bawumia
The NDC has always tried, sometimes unsuccessfully, to place an ethnic tag on the New Patriotic Party. The NPP has been able to douse this flame by producing two Vice-Presidents of Northern-Moslem descent in succession. But this did little to disarm the ever-toxic NDC. They quickly shifted the goal post, charging the NPP to put a Northerner as a flagbearer, if the party claims to be inclusive.
In a previous article, I dismissed any arguments grounded on geography and religion, and insisted that DMB comes to the contest solely on his credentials and solid records as the most visible, relevant, engaged, and productive Veep since the advent of the 4th Republic. But there is no denying the fact that DMB has flipped the Zongo and Northern support for the NPP, leaving the NDC both bewildered and angry. However, recent pronouncements from some aspirants and their hired assassins seem to me that, these people are very eager to ignore the lessons of history, and also keen to undo all that has been done to present the NPP as a truly inclusive national party. A party delegate at Kawokudi is less than charitable, and according to him, these people are paid agents of the NDC, and interested in damaging the party beyond repairs, post primaries.
Some of them, we know, actually hatched deadlier plots in 2016. The party delegate at Kawokudi is a true party man who understands that whoever wins the internal contest, the NPP has another big election to win, against an opponent that lurks dangerously to reverse all gains made over the past seven years, despite the difficult challenges imposed by global events and shocks. It requires that every party person who subscribes to the ideals of our forebears rises up to defend the record of the NPP in government. DMB has never shied away from that, but it is understandable, given that he has both the depth of knowledge to talk about our successes, and the loyalty to stand by the party’s record, no matter the circumstances. He is not the fair-weather party person with a consistent holier than thou know it all attitude
, plus an annoying sense of entitlement, who tries to run away from the record of the party he seeks to lead. He is not also the party man, who, as a sitting MP, was entrusted with an enormous opportunity to lead communication efforts of the party, but who returned grotesque results in a manner that will make the word incompetent a compliment. And indeed, DMB is not the party man who has since 2017 continuously denigrated the government and distanced himself from the party’s tireless pioneering efforts to transform our nation. More recently, one of the rabble rousers insulted opponents and cast ethnic slurs in his quest to become a flagbearer. In all these, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the man of the moment, looks forward to a truly inclusive NPP that will deliver prosperity to a united Ghana.
Against this background, it appears those doing the NDC’s bidding from within whilst pretending to be contesting in the internal race have nothing to lose. However, it is refreshing to hear the rising voices of party delegates, sending clear messages of caution to aspirants that no matter the outcome of the internal contest, we shall need a united party going into the 2024 elections, and many others to come. We cannot allow the greed, ill-conceived and uncoordinated thoughts of a few party people, with questionable loyalty and competence, to derail the greater good. DMB represents the mood of the party; a mood that has emerged following DMB’s unparalleled sense of commitment, vision, pioneering engagement, competence and loyalty. DMB has consistently shown respect to his boss, The President, showing that the greatest compliment one can pay to his leader is to do your very best in effecting their vision. We have seen DMB do this with panache, enthusiasm, and a commitment never seen in Ghanaian politics, in countless ground-breaking development initiatives over the last 7 years.
The NDC has its candidate. Common sense tells them that the main opponent is DMB. It is only a fool who will not recognise the one that can floor him in a wrestling bout. It is trite that the NPP candidate the NDC most feared facing is DMB. The NDC knows that the man who can floor its candidate is DMB, and so to the party, from day one, it has been a strategy to utterly discredit DMB, and It is sad to note that they have allies in the NPP in this process. NDC people do not care about the other candidates because they know no threat resides in any of them. In a bizarre twist, the NDC even supports the bids of the other pretenders.
The NDC’s strategy to handling DBM is to support a weaker candidate in the NPP. But isn’t it surprising that these internal rabble rousers do not foresee what threats lie ahead of them in the unlikely event of a Mahama victory? They will be the biggest losers, casualties, if you would!
Most credible politician, Bawumia
All in all, whilst HE Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu is focused on the big picture by telling the NPP’s story and how that translates into prosperity for all Ghanaians, some of his brothers in the internal contest are fixated on trivia, unearned sense of entitlement, and a race down to the bottom to dismember a party they profess to love. I cannot help but quote from DMB’s speech after filing his nomination papers. “Having implemented these transformational policy initiatives, it is very important that we don’t go backwards as a country. We cannot put the country back in the hands of people who don’t have an understanding of and belief in the vision. That is why it is important for us to break the eight. There is still much more to do.” And I dare add, indeed, there is much more to do, and we are looking at 2024 right now and the stakes are much higher. An opportunity is offered in DMB, who has everything working in his favour and for the benefit of the party’s electoral fortunes: competence, humility, diversity, loyalty and belief. The signal is strong and getting stronger. It is possible, and we can’t screw this up!
On behalf of the entire Dombo family, l extend our humble greetings to the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo and the entire leadership at all levels of the New Patriotic Party, both past and present.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
As a family that has been part of the root and fabric of the great historic tradition of the founding of the United Party tradition, through to the Progress Party (PP), the Popular Front Party (PFP) and now the New Patriotic Party, the Dombo faction has always demonstrated their unflinching and unwavering loyalty to our historic United Party tradition.
From the historic journey and constructive engagement of our great Patriach, Chief Simon Diedong Dombo (Chief S D. Dombo), in the politics of what brought our country Ghana, into being today, we his offspring, are in no doubt or elusion whatsoever, that our great Patriarch, didn’t achieve those heroics as a statesman, on his own or as an individual whose qualities stood out distinct and unique from those of his northern peers and brethren at the time.
The leadership role of our great Patriach emerged as a result of the unity and totality of support of his entire northern brethren at the time, of which one Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, of blessed memory, was one of them. Some of these brethren of our Patriach, we believe, might have had to subdue their own personal ambitions at the time, for the sake of a common cause, in order to support their senior brother to assume the leadership mantle at the time.
Brethren of this our great UP tradition, we of the Dombo family, will want to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation, first and foremost to all the northern political forerunners, like in the persons of and not exclusive or in any order of preference, Alhaji Yakubu Tali, Alhaji B.K. Adama, Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, Chief Jatoe Kaleo, Chief Lawyer Abeifa Karbo, H E Dr. Hilla Liman, (President of the Third Republic), all of blessed memory and many other unsung heroes of the political struggles of the then Northern Territories. These and many others, at the time, all threw their singular united and unwavering support behind our father and Patriach, Chief SD Dombo to lead the then Northern People Party, until the enactment of ADA 1957, (CA 38).
S.D. Dombo
It is for the sacrifices of these great fellow Northern compatriots and Patriachal political fathers that the name Dombo had the privilege of being the name used as among the founding fathers of the United Party tradition. We the decendants of the Chief SD Dombo Patriachal line, wish to take this opportunity to make this humble admission and also to express our deep sense of belonging and appreciation and to acknowledge all of our Northern decent, who have been part of making possible this history of the United Party that has come to stay for ever.
Brethren of our great political tradition, since the formation of the United Party as a result of the Avoidance of Discrimination Act (ADA) 1957 (C.A. 38), we on this side of the tradition, for the sake of unity of our tradition, have always thrown our support behind whoever gets elected at our presidential primaries. This is what democracy entails and as we of this tradition stand firm and hold high these values, we should be the last to want to ask for any favours that may in one way or the other, diminish these our credentials.
However, as the old adage goes, if a family is one, then they should demonstrate that in the manner they revolve the cleaning of the soup bowl. In making this our humble appeal, it is not about entitlement or making a premature call for ‘our turn’. It is a humble plea and an appeal to the rank and file at all levels of our party, to support the Presidential primaries bid of H.E. the Vice President, Dr. Mahamoud Bawumia.
We are making this plea for the first time since the marriage that brought forth the UP tradition. It is a national voluntary call, that transcends ethnic or tribal boundaries. It is not based on any ethnocentrism or sense of entitlement but on grounds of every healthy marriage and mutual co-existence, a mutuality that pre-supposes and disposes of mutual respect.
In the Presidential primaries of 2007, a son of Northern Ghana extraction, in the person of HE Alhaji Aliu Mahama, and thus, representing the Dombo faction of our great tradition, who had loyally served as a deputy to then President J.A. Kuffuor, among many others, contested but lost to our current President of the Republic of Ghana, HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.
For reasons of not being seen as seeking entitlement, we of this faction of our great tradition, always bury our heads in the sand. We however feel that this time around, we should appeal to the sympathy of our great party faithful and loyalists, to rally behind the second gentleman of the land, who has demonstrated the abilities to capably succeed HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo and to lead us into winning the 2024 general elections.
Once again, we are grateful to you all and appreciate and acknowledge the role everyone played in getting our political tradition to where we are today. Undeniably, it has been a long and tedious political journey from the 1950s to now, but has all been made possible by our common understanding and unity. Nothing is impossible. Thank you.
